Make Your Mark

Your vote is your voice. Learn how to use it! We have compiled a list of tools and resources below to help you. Keep scrolling to find information about upcoming elections, how to register to vote, different ways to vote, how to request a Voting 101 workshop for your class or student group, and read through our frequently asked questions.

Upcoming Election Dates

If you are an out of state student planning on voting in your home state – please check your state’s board of elections’ website for any upcoming 2017 elections. If you are a North Carolina voter or are planning to register as a North Carolina voter the following information applies to you. 2017 is an odd-numbered year, which means that municipal (local) elections all across NC will be held in the fall. Municipal elections occur between September and November, depending on what style of election the municipality uses (NCSBE). Check your NC County’s Board of Elections webpage for information about specific dates.

The following Municipal Election Dates are for Guilford County:

Tuesday, October 10, 2017 – Municipal Primaries (Register to vote by Sept. 15 for this election or go during the early voting period to do same-day registration)

Tuesday, November 7, 2017 – Municipal Election (Register to vote by Oct. 13 for this election or go during the early voting period to do same-day registration)

The following offices are available and up for nonpartisan election with primary in Greensboro and are 4 year terms.

Mayor (1 seat)

City Council At Large (3 seats)

City Council District 1 (1 seat)

City Council District 2 (1 seat)

City Council District 3 (1 seat)

City Council District 4 (1 seat)

City Council District 5 (1 seat)

Registering To Vote

Check if you’re registered: Not sure if you’re registered to vote or want to make sure you’re registered at your current address? The North Carolina State Board of Elections public voter search will provide you with information about when you voted, where you’re registered, what your sample ballot will look like (what you’re voting on), what districts you’re in and much more! This is also a great way to make sure your status is active.

Ready to register?: If you’re not registered, or need to update your address, please find your state’s election office website for state-wide voting guidance: https://www.usa.gov/election-office. Some states allow online voter registration and others require a paper form mailed or delivered in person. NC residents will need to fill out a Voter Registration Form, print, sign, and mail the signed form to the proper county board of elections office. UNCG students can also pick up a voter registration form in the Office of Leadership & Service-Learning (EUC 217).

Registration Deadline: To vote in an election in NC a registration form must be postmarked or delivered to your county board of elections office no later than 25 days before the date of the election. If you miss the voter registration deadline for an election, you may register and vote during the election’s one-stop absentee voting period (early voting) by completing an application at a one-stop site in your county and showing an election official proof of your residential address in the county. Acceptable proof of residence documents include a NC drivers license or other photo ID issued by a government agency or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address.

Registering to Vote With An On-Campus Address

Attention on-campus students ONLY! The sample form below was provided to us by the Guilford County Board of Elections as a sample registration form. It will show you how to correctly fill out your residential address (room number followed by residence hall name) and your mailing address (jdoe2 at UNCG) on a registration form. Use this format for a paper registration form, which can be found in the Office of Leadership & Service-Learning in 217 Elliott University Center, or online at the NC State Board of Elections website. If you have further questions about how a UNCG on-campus student should correctly fill out this form please call the Guilford County Board of Elections directly at 336-641-3836.

Voting

On election day – Vote at your assigned voting precinct. For NC voters you can search polling location and hours at: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/PPLkup/.

Early in-person voting – Early voting is the period before an election where voters can cast a ballot prior to Election day. Voters registered in Guilford County may vote at any early voting site in Guilford County. However, once the early voting period is past, voters must vote on election day at their designated polling place. Voters may change their name or address at an early voting site. Persons who are not yet registered in a county may register to vote, and vote, during early voting. This process is called “same-day registration”. If you do choose to register during early voting you will need to fill out voter registration form and provide proof of residence. Proof of residence can be a North Carolina driver’s licence with a current address on it, a photo identification from a government agency, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with your current address. A full list of acceptable forms of proof of residency can be found here on the NC State Board of Elections website.

Absentee voting by mail – Any North Carolina registered voter who is qualified to vote in an election can request and receive a by-mail absentee ballot for any election. No special circumstance or excuse is needed to receive and vote a mail-in absentee ballot. To receive a mail-in absentee ballot for an election, a voter or the voter’s near relative or legal guardian must use the State Absentee Ballot Request form to request the ballot. The ballot must be returned by 5pm on election day by mail or in-person delivery. Find the State Absentee Ballot Request Form on the State Board of Elections website. Likewise, if you are a student at UNCG from another state and are registered there, you may request an absentee ballot from your state that will allow you to vote by mail and not in-person. Please be aware of the deadlines to request and return an absentee ballot.

Request a Voting 101 Workshop

We know the voting process can be confusing. This is why the Office of Leadership & Service-Learning is inviting faculty and student groups to sign-up for our interactive Voting 101 Workshop. Trained student voter engagement fellows along with OLSL staff will cover the importance of voting, UNCG voting rates, current voter registration requirements, and how and where voting takes place. Participants will have the opportunity to register to vote during this workshop. All content is non-partisan and friendly to all political ideologies. This program can be tailored to fit a 15 or 30 minute time block. To schedule a workshop please contact Kristina Snader at kmsnader(at)uncg.edu or 336-256-1406, we will do our best to make a team member available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I register as?

Its up to you! This is what the NC State Board of Elections says about party affiliation: “There are three recognized political parties in North Carolina: Democratic, Republican and Libertarian. Voter registration applicants may choose one of these political parties when completing a voter registration application, or they may choose not to register with a political party affiliation. In this case, the voter’s party affiliation will be designated as Unaffiliated. North Carolina has a semi-closed primary system. In a partisan primary, voters who are affiliated with a political party may only vote the partisan ballot for the party for which they are affiliated; they are closed from voting in another party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters may vote in any one recognized party’s primary. In a General Election, voters may vote for the candidate(s) of their choice, regardless of the candidate(s)’ party affiliation. There is no longer straight-party voting in North Carolina. Voters must make a separate selection for each contest separately.”

What if I’m registered at home?

Students attending college in North Carolina may register at their school address. You must plan to return after temporary absences, like summer break, but do not have to plan to reside at that address permanently.

Students may choose to register or remain registered at a permanent address in North Carolina or outside the state. In this case, students may need to vote by absentee ballot or travel there to vote.

You may only vote in one location.

Do I need a photo ID?

No, not unless you are a first-time voter who did not provide their NC drivers license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number on your initial voter registration form. In this specific case you can show a photo ID with your current address or another HAVA document (see details here).

On July 29, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down photo ID requirements and associated laws in North Carolina (S.L. 2013-381, as amended by S.L. 2015-103. The state is considering its options. Barring a different outcome on appeal, photo ID will not be required in the upcoming general election.

Will voting in NC affect my federal financial aid?

Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants and Perkins or Stafford loans or your dependency status regarding FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Will registering to vote in NC affect my scholarship?

If you receive scholarship money from a state, county, town, or private entity (i.e., an entity other than the federal government) you should confirm that residency in a particular place is not a requirement of the scholarship and/or that voter registration in NC will not affect your eligibility.

Voting Information & Resources

Office of Leadership & Service-Learning
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Suite 217, Elliott University CenterGreensboro, NC 27402-6170
A Department in the DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRSVOICE 336.256.0538FAX 336.334.3823EMAILlead@uncg.edu